President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday declared that Nigeria’s sweeping economic reforms are yielding results despite the initial hardships, as Deloitte Africa praised the administration’s fiscal agenda and pledged support for investment, youth development and job creation.
Speaking while receiving a delegation of Deloitte Africa led by its Chief Executive Officer, Ruwayda Redfearn, at the State House in Abuja, Tinubu said the reforms had laid a solid foundation for sustained economic growth and increased global competitiveness.
The President acknowledged that the reforms had been painful but insisted they were necessary to reposition the economy.
“Reforms are difficult. Some of the decisions required bitter medicine, but they are working. Nigeria is making serious foundational progress,” Tinubu said.
He noted that the administration’s fiscal, revenue and tax reforms had strengthened the economy, improved public finances, repositioned financial institutions and enhanced Nigeria’s appeal to global investors.
Tinubu also urged Deloitte Africa to deepen its engagement in Nigeria by investing in skills development, training and employment opportunities for the country’s youthful population.
Recalling his early career in accountancy, the President commended Deloitte’s reputation for talent development, expressing confidence that the firm would continue to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s human capital development.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, echoed the President’s call, urging the global accounting and consulting firm to prioritise youth capacity building as part of its engagement with Nigeria.
Deloitte Africa CEO Ruwayda Redfearn reaffirmed the firm’s commitment to supporting the Tinubu administration’s reform agenda, saying the organisation was ready to deploy both its Nigerian and global expertise to drive digital transformation, business growth and economic development.
She disclosed that Deloitte employs more than 500,000 people globally, including over 6,000 across Africa, and generated $74 billion in revenue in 2025.
“We are here because we want to serve. Our local team and our global network stand ready to support your administration as you lead the country,” Redfearn said.
Also speaking, Deloitte West Africa CEO Yomi Olugbenro praised the administration for laying what he described as a solid foundation for economic transformation, stressing that the next phase should focus on ensuring ordinary Nigerians benefit from the reforms.
He said Deloitte would leverage its global experience in supporting governments across the world to help Nigeria maximise the gains of its ongoing reforms and deliver tangible dividends to citizens.
